Chris Young's 12.96 ERA in spring training proved a desert mirage and the Padres took advantage last night, parlaying Young's solid season debut into a 4-2 victory over the Dodgers.

“It's a lot different pitching in a meaningful game here in Petco Park against our division rivals,” Young said.

In support of Young, who went six innings for the first time in a season debut, the Padres scored four runs against former teammate Randy Wolf and got a scoreless inning apiece from relievers Edwin Moreno, Duaner Sanchez and Heath Bell.

Bell, overcoming a one-out walk, struck out Rafael Furcal with a 96 miles-per-hour fastball to end the game, then pumped his fist. It was his third strikeout of the inning and it was his first save chance since replacing the all-time save leader, Trevor Hoffman, who signed with the Brewers in January.

“I felt like I was running on air when I was coming in,” Bell said. “Before every pitch, I was just telling myself, go ahead and pitch.”

Noting that his 3rd career save left him 551 short of Hoffman, he joking said, “I'm not going for his record.”

Rebounding from Monday's 4-1 loss on Opening Day were several Padres hitters, led by Kevin Kouzmanoff, who tripled and scored for a 1-0 lead in the second and lined a single amid a three-run surge in the sixth, punctuated by Chase Headley's go-ahead double.

Kouzmanoff bats behind Adrian Gonzalez, who hit 36 home runs last season, so he will be tested by opponents who are unwilling to pitch to Gonzalez in key situations. Monday, he stranded five runners.

“Kouz has just got to be himself,” said hitting coach Jim Lefebvre. “The message is, Don't think. Just relax. Don't think. See it and hit it.”

For Young the task was easier: Pay no heed to his Cactus League struggles. He dislikes Arizona's arid conditions, which make it difficult for him to grip the ball. He also said exhibitions seldom raise his adrenaline level.

Last night, his fastball was faster, his slider sharper. He retired five of six leadoff men. The Dodgers hurt him only after Manny Ramirez doubled to lead off the fourth, keying a two-run flurry.

“For whatever reason, spring training has never been my strength, but that's why it's spring training,” Young said. “Once the lights come on, year in and year out, I feel like my stuff is going to be there.”

Said Padres right fielder Brian Giles: “He's a gamer, man.”

Padres hitters honored Wolf, a friend, by having club officials play Warren Zevon's rock song, “Werewolves of London” when Adrian Gonzalez batted in the first.

Wolf responded by striking out Gonzalez, but in the sixth, Gonzalez replied with a leadoff single that triggered a go-ahead spree. The single was a hard groundball to the left side, a rare blow by Gonzalez, but an apt one against a Dodgers infield that shifted toward the right side. Third baseman Casey Blake was lined up at shortstop and couldn't make a backhanded catch.